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Can People Be Trusted to Govern Themselves?One question that has been pondered since the times of Greece. Should the people be trusted to govern themselves? There has been great arguments, points, and responses to the question but history definitely plays a role.

Aristotle born in 384 BC in Stagira, Greece. Aristotle was a philosopher who believed that the government should be ruled by middle class men and that people should be trusted to govern themselves but only the properly educated middle class men. Aristotle analyzed all forms of government and found both good and bad examples but he preferred and favored a constitutional government. Aristotle even feared that democracy could lead to mob rule and favored the polity. His ideal form of government was more of a democracy than autocracy. Aristotle that the power of government rested with the people rather than one person possessing unlimited power. Aristotle died in 322 BC in Chalcis, Greece. In the United States, the founding fathers, in a way turned to Aristotle’s wisdom and guidance to create a fair and just democracy for the United States citizens.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, born on June 28, 1712 in Geneva, Switzerland. Jean-Jacques Rousseau, was a Genevan philosopher, writer, and composer. His ideal form of government was Direct Democracy. A government in which citizens vote directly for the laws that would govern themselves. Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s political philosophy influenced the French Revolution. He believed that human beings are good and equal in nature but modern society (government, school, media, and etc.) had corrupted the goodness in people. He wanted to find a way to protect everyone’s life, liberty, and property while everyone remained free. Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s solution was a social contract. A social contract is an agreement by which people obey the laws of government in exchange for protection. Everyone would give up all their rights to their community, not a king. The people would...

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...Have you ever wondered how our government was created? Two philosophers named Thomas Hobbes and John Locke played significant roles in the shaping of what is now our government. Both philosophers lived during the period of Enlightenment. Thomas Hobbes had a negative view of mankind, while John Locke had a positive view of it. Both men wrote a book and\or an essay about social contract. Each philosopher had different views on government. Thomas Hobbes and John Locke had opposing views on rebellion, too. Both men had substantial accomplishments in their lifetimes. Each philosopher played a large role in creating the government that we have today.
Both Thomas Hobbes and John Locke lived during the period of Enlightenment. The Enlightenment was a period of great changes in worldviews throughout Europe, England, and the colonies. It was also called the age of science, because people began to believe that learning came from experience, and not just God or religion. Thomas Hobbes lived from 1588 to 1679, during the English Civil War. John Locke lived from 1632 to 1704. Both philosophers were very important Englishmen during the Enlightenment.
Both of the philosophers had very differing views on mankind and equality. There were three main points in Hobbes’ argument about mankind. The first was that man is naturally vain and selfish. The second point always made was that people are moved by two emotions:...

...THOMAS HOBBES : ABSOLUTE MONARCHY IS THE BEST GOVERNMENT
Thomas Hobbes was an English philosopher who is known by everyone up to this day century for his philosophies about political philosophy. Thomas Hobbes was born on April 5, 1588. He was born in Westport, near Mamesbury, Wiltshire, England. He receives his college education at Oxford University in England. Thomas Hobbes was not only a philosopher but he was a political science, academician , historian, philosopher , and journalist. Leviathan was one of the most influential books written by Thomas Hobbes that use as a references by Western political philosophy basically from the perspective of social contract theory. One of the main topics that have always been a major topic in his political philosophy is self-interested nature of human cooperation, and political society based on a "social contract".
After Hobbes left Oxford, he became the private tutor for William Cavendish, the eldest son of Lord Cavendish of Hardwick. In 1610, Hobbes travelled with William Cavendish to France, Italy and Germany. After the dead of William Cavendish in 1628, Hobbes later worked for the Marquess of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, a cousin of William Cavendish, and the marquess's brother, Sir Charles Cavendish. Hobbes entered political involvement through his association with the Cavendish family. Hobbes entered into the activities of the king, members of Parliament, and other wealthy landowners were discussed, and his...

...Contemporary Civilizations
GENERAL WILL & MAJORITY RULE
Jean-Jacques Rousseau on the Institute of Government
Rousseau’s notion of General Will possesses a direct correlation to the idea of general welfare and the common interests of a people as a whole. In On The Social Contract he explains the philosophy being the idea of General Will by stating that "So long as several men together consider themselves to be a single body, they have but a single will, which is concerned with their common preservation and the general well-being" (Social Contract IV.1). This implies that the General Will is the natural and instinctive desire of all people within a group to act in favor of the perpetuation and common good of the group as a whole. In his discussion on General Will, Rousseau states directly that the General Will “is always right and always tends towards public unity” (Social Contract II.3). In theory, the validation of this claim can be supported by his further elaboration about the fact that “there is a great deal of difference between the will of all and the general will. The latter considers only the general interests, whereas the former considers private interests and is merely the sum of private wills” (Social Contract II.3). By this explanation the General Will consists only of the desires of the populations completely devoid of private interest. In many ways, this makes the General Will and extremely theoretical concept, as it involves an...

...An oppressive government is more desirable than no government at all.
Hello everyone, my name is Christopher Denq and I am the affirmative side of this debate. I would like to firstly provide two basic definitions relevant to this topic, followed by the value and criterion, then my four contentions, and finally, a conclusion.
Firstly, my definitions:
“Oppressive” is defined as unjustly inflicting hardship and constraint on a particular group.
“More desirable” is defined as “more appropriate, advantageous, or well advised”. Both were defined by New Oxford American Dictionary.
Secondly, my value and criterion:
Now, the value of life, which is having goals and reasons to live, has been the focus of many societies in the past. I shall reach this by parts of Hobbes Social Contract theory, specifically his idea of man being innately evil and self-interested. I shall also use his hypothetical state of nature, which is the primitive state where animals, or humans, have a natural right to everything and can do anything they will. Additional examples from history shall also be implemented on the affirmative’s side.
Next are my three contentions:
One, oppressive governments are more similar to general governments then no government.
More of a basic definition, this contention serves to provide a foundation on which compare the two sides of the debate. Firstly, oppressive governments...

...Social and Moral Policies of Government within Thelma and Louise
Brent Farrell
Capella University
August 26, 2012
Introduction
Fed up with their lives thus far, “Thelma and Louise” is both a tragic and fascinating story of two women looking for better satisfaction within their lives. Between the two of them, they are tired of living life by rules set in place by society, or loved ones, and want to try to find freedom. Thelma is in an oppressive relationship at the hands of her husband. Together, both Thelma and Louise go out on a weekend trip, to try to find a new life. As events happen, the road ahead for these two women is rough and dangerous. What starts out as a trip turns out to be a tragic life of running as fugitives.
Both women commit crimes along their way which makes them criminals sought after by state and federal authorities. Louise, who was a former victim of rape, shoots a man who tried to rape Thelma and is immediately linked to the murder. Louise therefore cannot go back home and keeps on running while her friend Thelma is not ready to leave her side. When the two friends become broke, Thelma remembers a line from a hitchhiker that they had picked up, and robs a gas station with an unknown amount of money. Before Thelma and Louise decide to tragically end their life by running the car that they are driving into a canyon, they realize how much they meant to one another over the time span of a few days. This film can be...

...The Fear that Keeps Government in Place
In Leviathan, Hobbes attempts to explain how civil government came to be established. He begins his argument at the most logical place; the fundamental basis of mankind, and makes several key steps in the development of human nature to reach the implementation of a sovereign ruler. Hobbes believes the foundation of mankind is motion. Man is in constant motion and the instability that forms from the collisions that ensue from the constant motion form the state of nature. The state of nature is an inherently dangerous lifestyle, where all members live in a state of constant fear. This fear drives man to consent to a social contract, which establishes a peaceful existence. The social contract is ultimately enforced by the sovereign ruler who uses fear of punishment to ensure man follows the laws created. Man essentially gives up one type of fear for another in an attempt to better human life.
Hobbes essentially believes that one must discover how the natural person functions to determine what type of government should be put in place and how man can accomplish its formation. He therefore begins Leviathan by arguing that every aspect of humanity can be explained through materialistic principles, because man consists simply of matter in motion. Hobbes believes individuals are born as blank slates and the knowledge man achieves of the world is derived from external bodies pressing against him....

...same thing to myself; “This part of the city, this hotel, and those robbers would be all in better conditions not just economically but generally, if our elected officials (at the state and federal levels) didn’t always spend their time arguing or campaigning, but actually trying to work together to make life better for the citizens of the United States” (REWORD).
The more I developed opinions, the more I really looked forward to working shifts there -- it was a place to sit down and watch the news, once a week. To get involved in the government, through knowledge and awareness.
By June 2012, the hotel was set to be shut down and demolished by the state in pursuit of a massive highway reconstruction project on US-31. Walking out of the doors for the last time in 8 years, the doors I smeared my fingerprints on as a hyper 7 year old and cleaned as a 14 year old, I was set on what I wanted to do as an adult -- public service, in the government. I want to serve one day as a representative of the people, one that focuses in the end on addressing the issue and compromising, for the sake of our future.
A friend of mine at school, whose political views I share, suggested that I start a CHS Young Democrats club. I consider myself a Democrat -- but I saw that club as the last thing I would ever start. I wanted to make a political discussion club that has no set leaning or favor, a neutral one. This way, students of any political affiliation...

...Government of Jammu and Kashmir
Civil Secretariat, Education Departmen.
Subject: - Placement/Postings of P.G. Masters as I/C Lecturers in the discipline of Chemistry.
Government Order No. 475-Edu of 2008
D A T E D: 23-09-2008
With a view to filling up the available vacancies of Lecturers in Chemistry discipline, the P.G. Masters/Teachers figuring in the Annexure “A” on the basis of Seniority/eligibility are hereby placed as I/C Lecturers in their own pay and grade with charge allowance as admissible under rules in the discipline of chemistry for a period of six months or till the posts are filled up on regular basis, whichever is earlier. This placement however will not confer any superior claim in them viz-a-vis others and shall not be without prejudice to the superior claim as may be existing or get established and shall be subject to the outcome of any case or claim decided or pending disposal before the Hon’ble Courts.
The officers figuring in Annexure “A” shall report to Director of School Education Kashmir/Jammu of their respective division with in a period of 21 days from the date of issue of this order. The director school education, Kashmir/Jammu shall allow these I/C Lecturers to join and post them in their respective divisions against the available vacancies to our come the shortage of teaching personnel in Chemistry discipline subject to verification of following: -
a. that the P.G. certificate on the basis of...